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Robert Downey Jr. Joins Alfonso Cuarón's Sci-Fi Film Gravity

by Alex Billington
March 12, 2010
Source: Deadline

Even more great casting news! Deadline Hollywood is reporting that Robert Downey Jr. is "negotiating a deal" to star in Alfonso Cuarón's new science fiction movie Gravity, which we first wrote about a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, Deadline also confirms that Jolie is no longer a part of the cast, as first reported. However, in terms of star power, Downey Jr. is probably an even stronger casting choice, and will instantly make this a huge hit. Legendary Pictures (of The Dark Knight and Clash of the Titans) is co-financing and developing the project in 3D with Cuarón at Warner Bros, even though it was originally a Universal project.

Downey will be one of the only main characters in this along with a female lead (at first we thought it was going to be just Jolie in this). Downey will play the leader of a team posted at a remote space station. While he and a female colleague are traveling outside the space station, the other team members are decimated by debris from an exploded satellite. In our previous article, the story was said to be about the sole surviving human member of a space mission, desperately trying to return home to Earth. I have a feeling that once the film ended up at Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros, they made Cuarón add another male character in order to justify the budget, since having someone like Downey attached will make this a guaranteed hit.

Downey will shoot the film in London this summer before he even starts working on the Sherlock Holmes sequel with Guy Ritchie. I can't even begin to tell you how incredibly excited I am for this movie! Cuarón is a brilliant director and I've been anxious to see him follow up Children of Men with another amazing movie. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that it would be a sci-fi film, because that's my favorite genre. I had always hoped we'd one day see Cuarón put his expertise to work in the sci-fi realm. Now we'll finally get to see that and it'll be ready by 2011 (or so we hope). I couldn't have asked for more exciting news than this!

Explore tags: Casting, Movie News, Opinions

Xerxex

I wanna be excited for movies again, I really wanna look forward to them...but once I see those two god awful words IN 3-D I'm reminded of how annoyed I am with this nonsense.
People's Champ

It does get very old.
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

Right, I agree with you guys for the most part, but that doesn't mean it's not viewable in 2D. If you really don't want to watch it in 3D, the 2D version will always be available, and most directors will still shoot for that kind of format anyway. Don't think there's anything to be concerned about.
case

I concur, I think perhaps they're just referring to getting tired of simply seeing it being said like it was a huge catch. I'll probably see this in 3d if it still sounds as promising as it does now, I like pretty much anything in space.
Candy Castle

This is great news. I wonder who the female lead will be.
Jake the snake

Great news - sci/fi plus RDJ!
Jake the snake

No Jolie is a good thing.
Xerxex

I agree Alex, as long as 2-D is an option then I'll be happy. #4 For the most part you're right. I'm somewhat disappointed that Jolie won't be in this, I for one think depending on the film she can really give a strong performance, just look at her performance in Changeling, but I'll get over it.
Sharlto

OMG I cannot wait for this! AAAAAAHHHHHH
Dan W

Any sci fi movie that seems to have potential is a good thing. Downey Jr and Cuaron could be a great mix. I loved children of men. But the story of the movie doesn't seem like anything new and excited. I have faith in the director to turn it into something great to watch though. I hope he employs the same filming techniques as in Children of Men
Johnnie Walker

Having read the script, it's not really sci-fi, more an adventure/survival movie almost totally in real-time. Could be really intense with the premise (inexperienced astronaut is stranded and has to get to space station and lifeboat before they crash to earth), but it felt repetitive by the end, because there's NO character arc. And they will have to totally rewrite for a male role, as the previous version was just the woman trying to make it. It's also going to be really expensive--pretty much every shot is an FX shot in space and 0g. Will be interesting to see how this evolves, especially once they run a budget...
Big Red Moose

When can we see Jolie's boobs in space and in 3D?
Tomi

Cuaron making another movie = awesome!! Cuaron making a sci-fi movie = awesome!! The movie stars Downey = awesome!! And Jolie is no longer part of it = super awesome!! BRING IT ON!!!
Xerxex

why all the Jolie hate?
Mov

Sandra Bullock in the female role?
Cody w

I dont think Jolie gets enough credit....shes been type casted as the femme fatale for the last decade and I wish she would get roles that would flex her acting legs, I mean changeling she did great and I just watched The bone collector the other day and she did fantastic in that. She has the ability just not track record to prove it.
SlashBeast

This movie sounds horribly derivative. But Cuaron will just keep moving the camera and everyone will cream their pants because that's "artistic". Even worse move, adding Robert Downey Jr. who's 99% guaranteed to play another fast talking, smarmy, and always quick to recover from anything thrown at him character.
ARi

eh, why do these latin american directors have a taste for cheese ball bratpack actors? Sorry Cuaron this will definitely be a movie I'll not see in the theaters and since it's 3D there's no reason to watch it at home. Sounds as bad as Clooney in Solaris. Blech.
Shiver

Children of Men WAS a sci-fi movie.
hhh

RDJ in a tight spacesuit, accenting his perky lil butt? Mmmmmmmnnn! I like this movie already
Untouched

I was reading this & i kinda like the sound of this movie and i think angelina would do this role justice and not sandra, i have never seen her in movie like this so it would be werid looking at her in a role like this and i think angelnia would be best for this movie!!